Welcome to today's meditation,
A 5 minute self-compassion meditation.
Take a moment to find a comfortable seated position.
Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Let your hands rest on your lap or at your sides.
And take a deep breath in.
And slowly release it.
Bring your awareness to your body.
Notice how you're sitting here in this moment.
Feel the support of the ground or the chair beneath you.
Let your body relax deeply into this support.
Now begin to focus on your breath.
Feel the natural rhythm of each inhale and exhale.
You don't need to change it,
Just notice it.
Let your breath guide you deeper into relaxation.
Releasing any tension or stress.
For a few moments,
Just be aware of the breath.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
As you continue to breathe gently,
I invite you to bring to mind a moment of struggle,
Discomfort,
Or a challenge you've recently faced.
Something not too overwhelming,
Just enough to feel its presence.
Take a few deep breaths and notice how this challenge makes you feel.
Whether in your body or in your emotions,
Do you feel tightness,
Discomfort,
Or sadness?
Allow these sensations to be present without pushing them away,
Without avoiding them.
Now softly place your hand over your heart or another area that feels right.
Feel the warmth of your touch.
This simple gesture is a signal of care and tenderness towards yourself.
Begin to silently repeat these phrases,
Or create your own as you breathe in and out.
May I be kind to myself.
May I accept myself as I am.
May I give myself the compassion I need.
May I be gentle with myself in this moment.
Repeating again in your mind.
May I be kind to myself.
May I accept myself as I am.
May I give myself the compassion I need.
May I be gentle with myself in this moment.
Notice how these words resonate with you.
You may feel resistance,
And that's okay.
Just let the words gently settle into your awareness,
Even if they feel unfamiliar or challenging.
There's no rush.
Just allow yourself to receive whatever comfort and warmth these words offer.
As you continue breathing,
Imagine a soft,
Glowing light at your heart.
With each inhale,
Feel this light grow brighter and warmer,
Filling your chest.
With each exhale,
Imagine it spreading through your body,
Gently easing any discomfort or tension.
This is your compassion,
Nurturing and soothing you from the inside out.
Rest here for a moment,
Feeling the support of your breath and your own loving presence.
When you're ready,
Slowly begin to deepen your breath,
Wiggling your fingers and toes,
Gently bringing your awareness back to the room.
You can open your eyes when you feel ready,
And take a moment to thank yourself for practicing self-compassion today.
Thank you for meditating today,
And I look forward to meditating again tomorrow.
May you have a blessed and peaceful day.